With the offseason underway for a number of teams and the remainder to join them in a few weeks, we're looking at what's in store for each club in the coming months.
2016-17 Grade: B
The Calgary Flames bounced back from a horrid 2015-16 season. In their first year with Glen Gulutzan behind the bench, they registered 94 points, finishing as the Western Conference's first wild-card team. They played exceptionally well down the stretch, posting a record of 21-9-1 in their final 31 games.
The Flames were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Anaheim Ducks, but three of the four games were decided by one goal. Regardless, reaching the postseason was good enough to earn this team a B grade.
Free Agents
Most of Calgary's core pieces are locked up long term, but a good chunk of its supporting cast will require contract renewals, specifically on the back end. More importantly, both of its goaltenders are unrestricted free agents:
| Player (Position) | 2017-18 Status | Age | 2016-17 Cap Hit | '16-17 Points/SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kris Versteeg (LW/RW) | UFA | 31 | $950K | 37 |
| Sam Bennett (C) | RFA | 20 | $925K | 26 |
| Curtis Lazar (C/RW) | RFA | 22 | $894 167 | 4 |
| Micheal Ferland (LW/RW) | RFA | 25 | $825K | 25 |
| Alex Chiasson (RW) | RFA | 26 | $800K | 24 |
| Dennis Wideman (D) | UFA | 34 | $5.25M | 18 |
| Deryk Engelland (D) | UFA | 35 | $2 916 667 | 16 |
| Michael Stone (D) | UFA | 26 | $2M | 15 |
| Brian Elliott (G) | UFA | 32 | $2.5M | .910 |
| Chad Johnson (G) | UFA | 30 | $1.7M | .910 |
| Ladislav Smid (D) | UFA | 31 | $3.5M | 0 (LTIR) |
2017 Draft Picks
The Flames have just five picks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft:
| Round | Picks |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1 (16th overall) |
| 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 |
| 4 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 |
| 6 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 |
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
Summer Priorities
1. Acquire a legitimate No. 1 goaltender:
Alright, Flames. Enough of this two-headed monster business in net. Time to go out an get a legitimate No. 1 goalie. Brian Elliott and Chad Johnson both had stretches of good play, but neither was as consistent as needed to make a run at the cup.
The only problem is, available No. 1 goaltenders are few and far between. Ryan Miller is probably the best available free-agent netminder, but he'll be 37 by the time next season rolls around.
Perhaps the most available goaltender via trade this offseason will be Marc-Andre Fleury. He was a bit shaky during the regular season, but re-upped his value with strong postseason play.
Otherwise, the best course of action would be calling up rebuilding teams like Arizona, Detroit, and New Jersey to inquire about the asking prices of Mike Smith, Jimmy Howard, and Cory Schneider. All three are capable of taking the Flames deep into the playoffs with the right pieces in front of them.
2. Add three defensemen:
The Flames' top three defensemen of Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton, and T.J. Brodie form one of the best trios in the league. If they were to add another legitimate blue-liner, such as Kevin Shattenkirk or Karl Alzner, for example, it would give them a top-4 that they can ride, not unlike the Nashville Predators.
If they can't land a big name to round out their top-4, they would be smart to add three capable, if unspectacular, names to give them a strong D-core one to six. Brendan Smith, Ron Hainsey, Trevor Daley, Michael Del Zotto, and Cody Franson should all be considered. Re-signing Michael Stone also shouldn't be ruled out.
3. Get a winger to play with Monahan and Gaudreau:
The vacant wing on Calgary's top line with Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau was a revolving door throughout the regular season. Gulutzan experimented with Micheal Ferland, Alex Chiasson, and Troy Brouwer, among others, but none are long-term solutions on the top line.
Going out and getting one of the top available wingers, such as T.J. Oshie or Alexander Radulov, would be ideal, but could cost a pretty penny.
When Monahan and Gaudreau had their breakout seasons in 2014-15, the club's leading scorer was their linemate, Jiri Hudler. While getting a high-profile player would be nice, Hudler's season is evidence that a big name isn't required for success. A veteran such as Radim Vrbata, for example, won't cost a fortune and could mesh well with Monahan and Gaudreau.
2017-18 Outlook
If the Flames can solve their goaltending issues, they will be legitimate contenders in the Pacific Division. The Sharks are only getting older and the Ducks could be hurt by the expansion draft more than any other team. The Kings could very well enter a rebuild - or a retool - and the Coyotes and Canucks are lottery candidates. The rival Oilers will be the favorites, though, which should give Calgary all the more reason to restock and put out a competitive team next season.
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